Stories for February 20, 2007

While the federal government struggles over the morality of embryonic stem cell research, California is forging ahead. On Tuesdays Full Focus, well talk about the $13 million in taxpayer funded seed money that San Diego scientists just received for stem cell research.

A plan to build a new power plant on the bay front in Chula Vista is expected to be squashed tonight by the city council. A majority of council members want to free up their city's waterfront for redevelopment. That could include a potential Chargers stadium. Full Focus explores what's at stake for the city.

Ignorance may be bliss in love, but not when you're stuck in traffic. Starting tomorrow, information on how to get around San Diego's bottlenecks will be a phone call or a mouse click away. Full Focus reporter Amita Sharma has more.

To comply with a new federal law, California will soon require all Medi-Cal enrollees to show proof of citizenship. People will have to furnish original passports, driver's licenses, or birth certificates to qualify for the program. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has the story.

What does stand-up comedian Paula Poundstone have in common with Joan of Arc and Abraham Lincoln? We'll ask her. We speak with Poundstone about her performance at SDSU, her new book, "There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say" and her take on some current events.

Hurricane Katrina was a tragedy for many reasons, and one alarming issue was the racism that displaced African-Americans faced. We speak with Eric Mann, a civil rights activist, about racial imperialism and the need for a united black reconstruction movement.

Homelessness is a constant part of the San Diego landscape. It is the source of a wide variety of emotions and experiences for people to come in contact with. And, it can be a life of misery for the people who are homeless. We'll open the phones to our listeners on the subject of homelessness. And we'll hear from some of the people who are trying to help the homeless and look for larger solutions.

One week after firing Marty Schottenheimer, the San Diego Chargers have hired Norv Turner to be the team's next head coach. Why did the team select Turner? Who will be the next defensive coordinator? We speak with Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton about the team's head coaching carousel.

Mayor Jerry Sanders and a delegation from San Diego are in Sacramento today. They are lobbying for a bigger share of the money from a new state bond passed by voters last November. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

Several San Diego County beaches are losing sand. The natural replenishing processes have been blocked by development. Local officials want state and federal help to fix the problem. KPBS environmental reporter Ed Joyce tells us the sand is vital for tourism and the survival of the beaches.